Skills and tech: hydrography’s balancing act
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Skills and tech: hydrography’s balancing act

Survey highlights an industry at a crossroads

Each year, Hydro International picks up the sounding line to gauge the landscape of the hydrographic sector. By posing questions to the hydrographic community, we measure the currents and underlying trends shaping this ever-evolving field. In this article, we highlight key topics such as S-100 standards, automation, interdisciplinary coherence, equipment investment and the challenges faced by professionals, presenting the main findings of this year’s industry survey.

The hydrographic sector is undergoing a transformation while advancements in uncrewed and autonomous surface vehicles are redefining data collection and analysis. In a world that is increasingly demanding field-proven, high-resolution data, hydrographers and ocean technologists are stepping into the spotlight. Their work is critical for tackling global challenges, from supporting offshore renewable energy projects to understanding the impacts of climate change. Bathymetric data, once very much a niche market, has become more and more a cornerstone for industries planning sustainable marine spaces, enhancing navigation and protecting biodiversity. These developments mark an exciting era for the profession, as hydrography moves to the centre of global efforts towards sustainability and resilience.

The reality is that this surge in opportunities comes with significant challenges. The rise of automation and AI is reshaping workflows, requiring new strategies, skills and a forward-thinking approach. Hydrographic professionals must navigate questions around data accuracy, ethical practices and the environmental impact of their operations – all while meeting the growing demand for actionable insights. Despite these hurdles, the mood within the sector remains optimistic. It is not only about adapting to this evolving landscape but also about playing a critical role when it comes to shaping it, ensuring that their work supports a sustainable future for both the industry and the planet.

Most significant challenges

“Good-quality onshore and offshore personnel, especially the latter. One company alone cannot solve this; the industry needs to work together to promote suitable higher education courses to get young people feeding into the industry.” This comment is in line with others made by participants in our industry surveys in recent years, with a steep upward trend. The issue, which is causing many headaches, needs to be given even more attention, which Hydro International will do in the coming year.

A hydrographer from Indonesia pointed out that the most significant challenges in their organization and the country’s hydrographic sector are transformation of the culture and the integration of artificial intelligence; instead of implementing strategies over and over again, it is important to focus on teaching and learning with an open mind. Other respondents also mentioned the shift to remote and uncrewed acquisition methods as a challenge. Keeping pace with the swift evolution of technology demands continuous learning and adaptation, especially when working with sophisticated tools such as GNSS systems, remote sensing technologies and autonomous underwater vehicles.

Keeping pace with the swift advancement of technology demands continuous learning and adaptation, such as the shift to remote and uncrewed data acquisition methods, as illustrated here by a Kongsberg Sounder USV. (Image courtesy: Kongsberg Discovery)

Availability of the needed technology is a noteworthy point derived from this year’s contributions. A survey participant from Saudi Arabia stated: “In our marine construction survey division, we struggle with the unavailability of specific technologies, such as machinery control systems for placing quay wall blocks, and the high cost of bathymetric survey equipment, making it challenging to justify investments to management.” A fellow expert from Portugal stated that resistance to innovation is a serious hurdle: “Clients want to continue using traditional methodologies.” To change this: “It is necessary to participate more in scientific events and promote this knowledge in institutions.” The development of the correct strategy regarding innovation proves a challenge in itself in many organizations: “Work processes are changing; it will be more remote, more autonomous, more data. But how is still unclear, which is making new strategies very hard.”

Implementing S-100 standards

S-100 is set to bring significant changes to hydrographic data, reshaping the maritime industry. As a comprehensive framework, it supports the development of digital products and services for the hydrographic, maritime and GIS sectors. But how are companies and organizations adopting S-100 to enhance data interoperability and drive progress? A hydrographer from the Netherlands: “Most of the effort and coordination is made by my colleagues from ENC production, all in good cooperation nationally with the hydrography service of the Royal Netherlands Navy.” A respondent working at a UK-based port authority responsible for safety of navigation and associated hydrographic data and products commented: “We are working with the UKHO and other professional organizations, our pilots, harbour-masters and marine operators to assess the S-100 suite of products – specifically S-101, S-102, S-104 and S-111 – for which we have demonstration datasets and collaborative projects with stakeholders.” A respondent from the Norwegian Mapping Authority’s Hydrographic Service stated: “We attend IHO working groups to plan for implementation in our organization. We aim to have a parallel production with S-57 and S-101 for instance during the transition.”

The adoption of the S-100 standards is not progressing at the same pace everywhere. The comment: “We have consulted how hydrographic documents are related to S-100 more tightly. But the speed of standardization is very slow,” is a far from isolated remark – similar sentiments are echoed widely. A significant group indicated either that they had never heard of the S-100 standards or that the standards do not play a role in their current work.

The impact of automation

Robotics and automation will continue to evolve the hydrographic sector and related fields in the coming years. Think of the automation of workflows and the uptake of remote technology, resulting in faster, more efficient and safer operations. We are experiencing a shift towards remote and autonomous mapping, and the importance of this transition is highlighted by information gathered through this edition of our annual industry survey. However, as we will learn further on in this article, there are some changes taking place here. How will automation reshape hydrographic operations, and which skills will become essential for professionals?

A participant running a small dredging company emphasized that while automation is indeed around the corner, humans are still needed to validate the survey data and avoid incorrect conclusions: “Surveyors need to have additional skills to be able to fill that position.” A respondent working for a leading player in international marine geoscience and offshore construction support services pointed out: “Automation will assist and support hydrographic operations. AI tools or similar will speed up activities such as data processing but you still need experienced and knowledgeable personnel to evaluate the results of any tools. Therefore, the current skills and experience of industry professionals will still be required, especially offshore experience.” A marine construction company employee questioned the expectations that automation brings with it: “If automation means that no-one actually understands what they are actually doing then this is a bit dangerous. Because of automation, fewer people seem to understand the details of data acquisition and processing and therefore how changes in settings affect this process. The basic skills are still necessary.”

While nearly everyone agrees that automation will advance hydrography, experienced and knowledgeable personnel remain essential.

An offshore surveyor based in India wondered whether automation alone can transform hydrographic operations, highlighting the need for robust knowledge, established standards and comprehensive skills development programmes to complement traditional methodologies. Key areas such as an ability to work with autonomous vehicles, remote data processing and survey risk management are expected to become essential competencies of the future. “Automation of shipping will place more demand on hydrography as accurate up-to-date data is one of the keys to automation,” stated one respondent, continuing: “There is a requirement to gather accurate current and tidal data along with bathymetric data and for the dataset to have a high CATZOC.” (CATZOC values indicate chart accuracy, helping mariners assess navigation risks. Displayed on ECDIS as symbols, the stars denote confidence levels in position, depth and seafloor data, editor). The need for more and better data requires skilled hydrographers and nautical cartographers – necessary for producing accurate products – leading the latter respondent to wonder whether the trend towards autonomous surveying necessarily leads to a lower demand for hydrography experts.

Collaborative efforts

Hydrography may be a sector on its own when it comes to collecting data on the topography of underwater environments using high-end specialized equipment and advanced techniques and survey methods. However, it overlaps with other fields and the definition of what many companies involved in the hydrographic industry are doing can be blurred and is not strictly limited to pure hydrography alone. This is why this year’s industry survey also asked about collaborative efforts with other fields that can help drive innovation in hydrography.

This is underlined by a survey participant from the US: “Coastal engineering and hydrography go hand in hand in my mind. Marine biology will become an increasingly bigger part of this picture.” This is supported by multiple respondents, with comments that can be summarized as ‘hydrography, by its nature, links various fields of knowledge’. A respondent from the UK discussed the importance of combining hydrography with other key disciplines to address challenges such as biodiversity net gain and innovative coastal engineering, arguing that collaboration – particularly between industry and academia – is vital for many reasons, such as protecting habitats, managing sea-level rise and reducing the impacts of extreme weather.

“The critical field that will influence hydrography will be defence; the much wider adoption of uncrewed platforms means that the requirements for reliable data to feed into the autonomous systems goes up, rather than being able to rely on experienced marine crews on the boats to make the critical decisions,” added a hydrographic software developer based in Australia. Collaborative efforts with other fields can also lead to intertwining different technologies, as a port surveyor, also from Australia, stated: “The combination of photogrammetry and Lidar will provide greater detail for coastal engineering; machine learning could be introduced into backscatter seafloor classification making it easier for marine biology to identify habitats.” Multiple respondents indicated an overarching theme for a wide range of areas: “The collection of standardized data to support a wide range of uses – collect once, use many times.”

Hydrography goes hand in hand with many other fields, as exemplified here by a Saildrone USV off the Aleutian Islands – a solution that can also be employed for a wide variety of tasks. (Image courtesy: Saildrone)

Essential gear for tomorrow’s surveys

As the need for high-quality hydrographic data continues to grow, with a focus on collecting data that can serve multiple purposes, organizations are exploring new ways to improve acquisition processes and meet rising demands. What strategies are they adopting to drive progress in this field? What solutions are they prioritizing for the years ahead?

In recent years, expectations around automotive have risen sharply, in terms of technology and certainly in terms of expected investments. This year we see that this is levelling off. Responses to both of the above questions varied depending on the survey participant’s background. For example, a port authority surveyor stated that they are investing in more surveying equipment for defining nautical depth and in developing a digital twin, but that they also had the impression that other ports across the globe also intend to invest in hardware and software solutions. A hydrospatial consultant from South Africa foresaw investments in uncrewed technology, with a focus on underwater photogrammetry and Lidar as well as ultra-high-resolution multibeam. These investment plans are based on the need for time management, operational planning and forecasting for field operations; for more environmental impact assessment, research and sea-level rise impact studies and consultancy appointments; and for survey service support for post-flood infrastructure damage and repairs. A respondent representing a US interagency partnership to advance bathymetric Lidar named investments in physical models and processing algorithms for bathymetric Lidar as a key priority: “With bathymetric Lidar being able to acquire large complex areas quickly, a challenge remains how to sort such complex data in a timely manner for the data users’ needs and this will be the same issue with the digital twin. We will need investments in smarter ways to achieve the holy grail of good, cheap and fast data.”

The outcomes of the industry survey show that investing in MBES systems with integrated IMUs is a priority, particularly for hydrographic offices, aligning with the increasing demand for accurate and efficient seabed mapping solutions. These integrated systems enhance motion compensation, ensuring precise bathymetric data collection even in challenging marine environments – critical for tasks such as coastal mapping and producing nautical charts where data accuracy is paramount for navigation safety. Also on the investment lists of port authorities and hydrographic offices in particular for the years ahead: new survey vessels combined with unmanned remote-controlled vessels and multiple multibeam echosounders for the collection of data, from quay wall to seafloor.

Such investments may also tie into the stringent standards set by S-44, which define the required accuracy for hydrographic surveys. Hydro International published an insightful article in 2024 by Huibert-Jan Lekkerkerk, titled ‘S-44 and the systematic error’, which zooms in on an often-overlooked aspect of uncertainty in hydrographic surveys. The article features essential considerations for understanding and managing systematic errors, making it a valuable resource for professionals working to meet S-44 standards.

By integrating IMUs directly with MBES systems, hydrographic offices can address these uncertainties more effectively, reducing post-processing efforts and delivering high-resolution datasets suitable for a wide range of applications. This approach not only supports safer navigation but also provides valuable data for coastal engineering, environmental monitoring and renewable energy projects. This brings together again the multiple fields connected with hydrography.

Airborne Lidar bathymetry is likely to become a key tool for future hydrographic surveyors, illustrated here with imagery captured off the coast of Catalonia. (Image courtesy: Field)

Conclusion

The industry-wide shortage of experienced and skilled surveyors is a challenge that requires immediate attention, as it affects every stage of survey campaigns. Many of this year’s industry survey participants worry about the decline in professionals with hands-on experience, which has a particular impact on the effectiveness of governmental oversight. This gap often leads to impractical approaches and suboptimal solutions, resulting in avoidable costs and operational inefficiencies. Addressing this issue through targeted training and recruitment can help steer the industry towards more effective and harmonious outcomes.

While exploring the possibilities of S-100 services is essential, the survey outcome implies that many people working in hydrography have very little exposure to S-100 products and that more knowledge is highly recommended and necessary. Survey participants also mention that it is important to understand that more people need to be aware of the inherent risks associated with a higher level of automation. It is notable that artificial intelligence barely came forward as a topic this year; one would think that it could be presented as a solution direction, also with the challenges mentioned here in mind. It is perhaps a sign that the hype is a little past its peak.

Many of the respondents to this year’s Hydro International industry survey believe that the industry needs to take a few steps back and revisit the basics, although without leaving the path of the many exciting technological advancements being witnessed, as they bring many solutions that helps the sector forward. Like last year, the survey highlights a pressing demand for skilled professionals and the ongoing difficulties in recruiting and retaining talent. The sector must come together to tackle this challenge, to increase awareness of the exciting opportunities in hydrography and to inspire greater interest among students and young learners.

The growing urgency for skilled surveyors, even more evident than last year, underscores the need to invest in attracting new talent and enhancing training efforts. (Image courtesy: Fugro)
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